Baltimore County vs Montgomery County, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)

Baltimore County vs Montgomery: Fee Structure Side by Side

Scope note: Both counties' figures are the building-permit side only. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical), impact and excise charges on new homes, and zoning approvals are excluded from both. Baltimore County rounds permit fees up to the nearest dollar and does not publish a residential per-square-foot rate (only a $280 Category D minimum), so a new-home total is not directly comparable to Montgomery's. Baltimore County's schedule lists a separate $75 residential permit application fee and does not say whether it is credited toward the permit fee, so PermitPrice shows it as an additional line.

Shared-Assumption Worked Examples

Each example assumes the same project for both counties.

Example 1: Deck (under 500 sq ft)

Note: Baltimore's deck is a flat $105 under 600 sq ft ($150 at 600 sq ft and over) plus the separately listed $75 application fee; Montgomery's is a flat $223.87 for decks 500 sq ft or under (above that, $0.88305/sq ft). Deck electrical is a separate trade permit in both counties.

Example 2: Residential Solar

Note: Both figures are the building permit for a rooftop residential solar system. The electrical interconnection is a separate trade permit in both counties. Baltimore's $100 to $175 (the higher figure adds the $75 application fee) is $86.18 to $161.18 below Montgomery's $261.18.

Example 3: New Detached House, 2,400 sq ft (not directly comparable)

Note: These are not directly comparable. Baltimore County's residential Category D lists a $280 minimum but does not publish a per-square-foot rate for one- and two-family homes, so the true Baltimore new-home fee cannot be computed from the schedule. Montgomery's $3,178.98 is fully computable. Both counties assess large separate impact, excise, and school facility charges on new homes, excluded here. Confirm the Baltimore residential rate with PAI before relying on it.

Which County Is Cheaper for Your Project?

Practitioner Insight

On the everyday residential projects homeowners pull permits for, the answer now depends on the job. Baltimore County is cheaper for decks ($105 to $180 vs $223.87) and solar ($100 to $175 vs $261.18) either way, and its flat bands are broad (a $105 deck under 600 sq ft, a $105 accessory structure under 1,000 sq ft). But its July 1, 2026 schedule also lists a separate $75 residential application fee and does not say whether it is credited toward the permit. If it is additional, a fence ($110 vs $89.54) and a small shed ($180 vs $136.80) are cheaper in Montgomery; if it is credited, Baltimore County is lower on all four ($35 fence, $105 shed). PermitPrice will update these figures once the county confirms. Where the comparison breaks down is new construction: Baltimore County's schedule gives only a $280 Category D minimum for one- and two-family homes and never prints a per-square-foot rate, so you cannot compute a real new-home fee from it - Montgomery's $0.88305/sq ft FY2027 schedule is fully transparent there. Both schedules took effect July 1, 2026; confirm your project's fee before you budget: Baltimore County PAI at 410-887-3900 and Montgomery County DPS at 240-777-0311.

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